Welcome, this industry newsletter shares key market changes, in a twice-monthly publication, curated by Jeremiah Owyang, Founder of Catalyst Companies™, you can subscribe to the email newsletter on the footer of the homepage.

UberRUSH releases API to help businesses build on-demand delivery capabilities
Currently available to a closed set of partners, UberRUSH’s new API simplifies logistics by seamlessly integrating on-demand delivery capabilities into existing infrastructure and applications. Nordstrum, 1800flowers, T-Mobile, Noodles & Company, SAP, and Cole Haan are among the brands already using the API to deliver products and services affordably and reliably to customers in select cities. This is competitive to other crowd-based delivery services like Postmates, Instacart, Deliv, DoorDash and more, while also posing a threat to traditional logistics companies that do not partner with Uber. The business model for UberRUSH includes a base fee, plus a merchant fee for distance travelled. Get more info from Uber.

Lyft provides a sneak peek into its rider-centric, driverless future
In a recent interview with Buzzfeed, Lyft’s Creative Director Jesse McMillin shared the company’s vision for a self-driving future that will be made possible through its recent partnership with GM. Lyft plans to offer service-centric autonomous vehicles on the driverless platform, offering experiences that range from “nap pods” to “mani-pedi-Lyft pods” to wif-enabled vehicles with touchscreen tables. These granularly tailored ride experiences are predicted to hit the roads within the next 10 years, further contributing to the decreased need or desire for vehicle ownership. Companies will undoubtedly capitalize on future opportunities for branded pod experiences. Read the full story on Buzzfeed.

Experts and start-ups struggle to measure full value of the Collaborative Economy
According to recently published Airbnb and Sharing Economy UK research, the emerging Collaborative Economy is so large that it’s difficult to measure the true economic impact of these new ecosystems. If on-demand “gigs” and product/service sharing and rental markets aren’t included in official labor and economy statistics, governmental programs and policy decisions that assist this subset of workers aren’t prioritized. The Wall Street Journal similarly reports on the challenges of calculating the total economic and environmental impact, and the U.S. government’s plan for change. The Bureau of Labor Statistics will soon team up with the Census Bureau to survey the scope of “contingent worker” arrangements. It will help the government set policy that fosters innovation and economic security for workers.

We want to hear from you! What are the market impacts are of this week’s news stories? Email Catalyst Companies’ Founder Jeremiah Owyang directly to share your thoughts.

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